Bed-bottom



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.-Shet 1.

0. H. FITCH.

7 BED BOTTOM.

No. 252,654. Patented Jan. 24,1882.

mmwws 2 Sheets 2-. CH.

(N0 Mod l) BED BOTTOM,

Patented Jan. 24. 1882.

ATENT Fries.

CALVIN H. FITCH, OF MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS, VERMONT.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,654, dated January 24, 1812.

(N0 model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN H. FITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown Springs, in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottoms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make'and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of improvements in that class of bed-bottoms in which the bottom proper is made of inelastic but flexible material which is made to yield under the weight of the occupant by means ofspring supports therefor.

In these improvements the bottom proper is made up ofcrossed st: ips ofsheet metal rigidly united at their points ofintersection. The bottom so formed is adapted to be hooked on springs secured to cross-bars arranged at the ends of the bottom, which bars are adapted to befirmly connected to side rails either of the bed or forming part of the bed-bottom as an article of manufacture. These cross pieces or bars, besides serving to support the bottom proper, are so constructed with reference to their fastening means as to afi'ord a variabletension device fortaking upthe slack and keeping taut the bed-bottom. Thefastening means referred to are socket-pieces at each end of the cross-bars, adapted to straddle the side rails without mortising or otherwise cutting said rails, and held on said side rails at such an adjustment as to keep the bed-bottom taut by means of one of several headed pins, screws, or devices for each socket-piece, and screwbolts, the said headed pins in the act of applying the last cross-piece serving as fulcra against which the bar is depressed like a lever and draws the bed-bottom taut.

In the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvements in position for application to a bedstead, the cross-piece and a part of the bottom at one corner being broken away to show the socket. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with one cross-piece bolted to the side rails and the other cross piece in position for straining or drawing taut the bottom. Fig.3 is a perspective view of one of the sockets, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section on linear arof Fig. 1, Figs. 3 and 4 being on the same enlarged scale; Figs. 5 and 6, side and top views, re pectively, of a modification of the socket.

The letter A designates a preferred form of bed-bottom proper. This bottom is composed respectively of longitudinal and transverse strips a I) of sheet metal-say, brass-which are united rigidly at all of their intersect-lug points by means of rivets 0, so as to mike a firm, preferably inelastic, but flexible bottom.

I do not limit my invention to the use of any particular form or construction of bottom, but, may use the bottom desc1'-ibed-woven-wire, canvas, or other material.

The bottom is secured to the hook-shaped ends of springs d; and I prefer, foreconomy and strength, twin springs, as shown in the draw ings. Thebottom will be bestretaiued in place upon the hooked ends of the spring cl by supeI'- posing strips 0, made separate from the bottom. These springs are secured to bars f, which form'the head and foot bars of the bed. The bars fare provided at theirends with verticall y-depending socket-pieces B. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, each of these sockets has a horizontal lip, 9, through holes in which fastening devices are pas-ed into the under side of the bar. At right angles to this lip are two parallel plates, h i, connected on top by a crossplate,j, which latter is slotted longitudinally at k. The plates h and i are perforated at their lower ends, and the plate iis thickened, so that its perforation I may be screw-threaded, the said perforations serving to receive a screw or bolt, 122, whose thread engages with the threaded hole 1 in the plate 1 said plate thus serving the purpose of a nut for the bolt, and thereby dispensing with an independent orloose nut. A loose nut may, however, be employed. The sockets constructed as described may be cast in one piece of metal, not altogether inelastic,

to permit theplates h and '5 to be drawn toward each other by the screw, and yet suf ficiently rigid to retain their shape.

Rails a, which may form part of the bedbottom as put up for sale, or which may be the side rails of a bedstead, have on their up per edge at each end a plurality of beaded devices, 0, set apart at a suitable distance. These devices may be screws. The bars f form the cross-pieces to connect these rails, and their sockets straddle said rails. and their adjacent edges abut against one of the devices 0 at each end of each rail to hold the bars at the proper adjustment upon the rails, while the bolts m, passed through the plates h i beneath the rails, lock the barsfdown upon the rails, and thereby hold the bottom in position. The unused devices 0 project through the slots 75 of the platej.

The bottom A having been secured to the hooked springs of one bar, and that bar having been applied to the rails. as described, the other end of the bottom is likewise hooked to the springs of the other bar. This other bar is then brought into position on the rails, the sag of the bottom indicating atwhich devices 0 the sockets shall be applied, and such sockets being applied to said devices, as indicated at the righthand end of Fig. 2, said devices become t'ulcra, and the sockets, with their cross bar, become levers, upon the depression oi which levers the bottom is drawn taut, and the bolts on being applied, the bottom is secured in its taut state. When by usage the bottom again sags the bolts of one cross-bar are removed, the sockets placed against others of the devices 0, and leverage used to draw the bottom taut again. Thus the sockets, operating against the devices 0, become tension devices t'or the bottom, and the tension can be easily and economicallyregulated. The devices 0 prevent longitudinal movement or approach of the sockets, and the bolts m prevent vertical displacement. The devices 0 are driven directly into or secured upon the side rails without marring or weakening-them. So also the sockets are applied and used without recessing or mortising.

Even in cast metal-as, for instance, malleable castingst hereis sutticient resilience to admit of the platesh i ofmy sockets being drawn toward each other by the screws or bolts m to clamp the sockets to the rails or cause the said plates to bind upon the faces of the rails.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the socket B is secured to the side rail by two bolts passed through the rail. In this form of socket one bolt will take the place of the headed pin. This form of socket may be made adjustable by having a plurality of bolt'holes for each bolt.

What I claim is- 1. The bed bottom A, composed solely of crossed strips of sheet metal united at their intersections by suitable fastenings, soas to be securely held together and adapted to be hooked to springs to support the same at its ends only, substantially as described.

2. In a bed bottom, the combination of a bottom proper, spring hooks to engage and support such bottom at its ends only, end crossbars to which such spring-hooks are s: cured, sockets at the ends of such cross-bars, and a framing to which such sockets are bolted to sustain the whole, substantially as described.

3. The cross-bars of a bed-bottom, provided with sockets, combined with the side rails, abutments thereupon against which the sockets rest, and bolts to lock said sockets and cross-bars upon the rails, substantially as described. I

4. The cross-bars of a bed-bottom, adapted to receive the bottom proper, combined with sockets on said cross bars, the side rails, a plurality of headed pins or their described equivalents arranged upon said rails,and bolts to secure the said sockets in place upon the rails, said pins serving as fulcra for the sockets, which, in applying the bottom tothe rails, are used as tension devices to take up the sag of the bottom, substantially as described.

5. The crossba-rs of a bed-bottom, provided with sockets to secure them to the side rails, said sockets having side plates to clasp the rails, and slotted connecting-plates, combined with a plurality of abutments on the rails, whereby the adjustment ot'the cross-bars necessary to take up the sag of the bottom is secured, substantially as described.

6. The cross-bars and a. heal-bottom secured thereto, combined with side rails, sockets on said cross-bars to connect the bars and rails, abutments on said rails to effect the adjustment and holding of the cross-bars longitudinally of the rails, and bolts to lock said sockets to the rails and prevent vertical displacement, substantiall y as described.

7. The cross-bars to support the bottom of a bed, provided with socketsadapted to straddle the rails, and adjustaby secured to said rails by means of superficial abutments on the upper faces of such rails, and bolts engaging such sockets and hearing against the bottoms of such rails, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I a-tfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A. W. GRAY, A. A. GREENE. 

